Antonyms for forward
ˈfɔr wərdfor·ward

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.8 / 4 votes

1. forward

   Antecedent may denote simple priority in time, implying no direct connection between that which goes before and that which follows; as, the striking of one clock may be always antecedent to the striking of another with no causal connection between them. Antecedent and previous may refer to that which goes or happens at any distance in advance, preceding is limited to that which is immediately or next before; an antecedent event may have happened at any time before; the preceding transaction is the one completed just before the one with which it is compared; a previous statement or chapter may be in any part of the book that has gone before; the preceding statement or chapter comes next before without an interval. Previous often signifies first by right; as, a previous engagement. Foregoing is used only of that which is spoken or written; as, the foregoing statements. Anterior, while it can be used of time, is coming to be employed chiefly with reference to place; as the anterior lobes of the brain. Prior bears exclusive reference to time, and commonly where that which is first in time is first also in right; as, a prior demand. Former is used of time, or of position in written or printed matter, not of space in general. We can say former times, a former chapter, etc., but not the former part of a garden; we should say the front part of the garden, the forward car of a train. Former has a close relation, or sharp contrast, with something following; the former always implies the latter, even when not fully expressed, as in Acts i, 1, and Eccles. vii, 10.

   Antonyms:
   after, concluding, consequent, following, hind, hinder, hindmost, later, latter, posterior, subsequent, succeeding

   Synonyms:
   antecedent, anterior, earlier, foregoing, former, front, introductory, precedent, preceding, preliminary, previous, prior

   Preposition:
   Such was the state of things previous to the revolution. [Previous to is often used adverbially, in constructions where previously to would be more strictly correct; as, these arrangements were made previous to my departure.]

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. forward

   Antonyms:
   tardy, backward, reluctant, indifferent, slow, retiring, modest

   Synonyms:
   advanced, ready, eager, anxious, obtrusive, self-assertive, impertinent, progressive, onward, confident, bold, presumptuous

Matched Categories

1. • Basketball Player

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:5.0 / 3 votes

1. forwardnoun

   the person who plays the position of forward in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey

   Antonyms:
   blate, converse, reversive, retroflexed, rearward, retracted, reverse, retral, transposed, cacuminal, regressive, bashful, self-referent, backswept, backward, receding(a), sweptback, retroflex, retrograde, reflexive, returning(a), inverse, reversed, regardant(ip), rearwards, backwards, back

2. forwardadjective

   a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team

   Antonyms:
   regressive, returning(a), reverse, reversed, retroflex, inverse, sweptback, transposed, rearward, reflexive, regardant(ip), cacuminal, retral, self-referent, reversive, retracted, retroflexed, backswept, bashful, backward, receding(a), blate, converse, retrograde, back, rearwards, backwards

3. forwardadjective

   at or near or directed toward the front

   "the forward section of the aircraft"; "a forward plunge down the stairs"; "forward motion"

   Antonyms:
   rearward, sweptback, retral, transposed, reverse, regressive, reversive, retroflexed, backward, backswept, cacuminal, retrograde, returning(a), receding(a), converse, reversed, self-referent, regardant(ip), reflexive, retroflex, bashful, retracted, blate, inverse, backwards, back, rearwards

   Synonyms:
   forward-moving, advancing

4. forwardadjective

   used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty

   "a forward child badly in need of discipline"

   Antonyms:
   regressive, blate, rearward, transposed, retroflexed, cacuminal, backward, reverse, bashful, retroflex, inverse, returning(a), converse, receding(a), retrograde, backswept, reflexive, reversed, reversive, sweptback, regardant(ip), self-referent, retracted, retral, back, backwards, rearwards

   Synonyms:
   forward-moving, advancing

5. forwardadjective

   of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle

   "in a forward gear"

   Antonyms:
   inverse, reverse, retroflex, regressive, transposed, reversed, retral, converse, reflexive, backswept, reversive, cacuminal, self-referent, retracted, receding(a), retroflexed, blate, backward, rearward, returning(a), bashful, retrograde, regardant(ip), sweptback, back, rearwards, backwards

   Synonyms:
   forward-moving, advancing

6. advancing, forward, forward-movingverb

   moving forward

   Antonyms:
   retroflex, backward, reversed, inverse, reversive, converse, receding(a), cacuminal, rearward, retracted, returning(a), backswept, reverse, retrograde, reflexive, regressive, sweptback, retral, retroflexed, bashful, regardant(ip), blate, self-referent, transposed, back, rearwards, backwards

   Synonyms:
   forward-moving, advancing

7. forward, send onadverb

   send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit

   "forward my mail"

   Antonyms:
   self-referent, retroflex, blate, backward, reverse, backswept, reflexive, rearward, regardant(ip), regressive, reversive, transposed, bashful, sweptback, retrograde, receding(a), reversed, retracted, cacuminal, converse, inverse, retral, returning(a), retroflexed, rearwards, backwards, back

   Synonyms:
   send on

8. forward, forwards, frontward, frontwards, forrad, forrardadverb

   at or to or toward the front

   "he faced forward"; "step forward"; "she practiced sewing backward as well as frontward on her new sewing machine"; (`forrad' and `forrard' are dialectal variations)

   Antonyms:
   backswept, retroflex, rearward, retracted, backward, reverse, sweptback, cacuminal, receding(a), converse, regressive, retrograde, regardant(ip), retral, inverse, transposed, reflexive, blate, self-referent, reversive, bashful, reversed, retroflexed, returning(a), rearwards, back, backwards

   Synonyms:
   forrad, forrard, frontwards, forwards, frontward, ahead, forth, forrader, onwards, onward, fore

9. forth, forward, onwardadverb

   forward in time or order or degree

   "from that time forth"; "from the sixth century onward"

   Antonyms:
   retral, backswept, backward, reversive, bashful, reverse, regardant(ip), retroflexed, transposed, rearward, retroflex, retracted, sweptback, cacuminal, reversed, blate, reflexive, receding(a), retrograde, converse, regressive, self-referent, returning(a), inverse, rearwards, backwards, back

   Synonyms:
   forrad, off, frontwards, forwards, frontward, ahead, forth, forrader, onwards, onward, fore, away, forrard

10. ahead, forwardadverb

    toward the future; forward in time

    "I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring"; "I look forward to seeing you"

    Antonyms:
    inverse, reflexive, blate, reversive, regressive, receding(a), reversed, retral, reverse, cacuminal, returning(a), bashful, retroflexed, backward, retroflex, backswept, retrograde, rearward, transposed, regardant(ip), self-referent, retracted, sweptback, converse, rearwards, backwards, back

    Synonyms:
    frontwards, before, forrader, onward, forrad, in the lead, onwards, in advance, forwards, forrard, in front, out front, forth, frontward, fore, ahead, beforehand

11. ahead, onward, onwards, forward, forwards, forraderadverb

    in a forward direction

    "go ahead"; "the train moved ahead slowly"; "the boat lurched ahead"; "moved onward into the forest"; "they went slowly forward in the mud"

    Antonyms:
    retroflex, retrograde, cacuminal, receding(a), reverse, retral, regardant(ip), transposed, backswept, returning(a), reflexive, backward, retroflexed, regressive, converse, blate, rearward, reversive, inverse, retracted, self-referent, bashful, reversed, sweptback, backwards, rearwards, back

    Synonyms:
    frontwards, before, forrader, onward, forrad, in the lead, onwards, in advance, forwards, forrard, in front, out front, forth, frontward, fore, ahead, beforehand

12. fore, forwardadverb

    near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane

    "the captain went fore (or forward) to check the instruments"

    Antonyms:
    regardant(ip), backward, reverse, reversive, backswept, sweptback, receding(a), bashful, cacuminal, retrograde, retral, self-referent, reversed, retracted, returning(a), converse, reflexive, rearward, retroflexed, retroflex, blate, regressive, inverse, transposed, back, backwards, rearwards

    Synonyms:
    forrad, forrard, frontwards, forwards, frontward, ahead, forth, forrader, onwards, onward, fore

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. forwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   anterior, fore, overready, presumptuous, brazen, impertinent, obtrusive, intrusive, premature, precocious

2. forwardverb

   Synonyms:
   advance, promote, accelerate, expedite, further, transmit, send, ship

How to use forward in a sentence?

1. Sherri Blanton:

   I look forward to going to work every morning, this was just a stepping stone for me... Maybe in the next year or so I'll be a chef !

2. Barbara Eden:

   It’s like any other birthday, I’m just happy to be here, i really don’t think about it. Everybody else does but I never have. I’m looking forward to going back to work. In February of 2022, I’m going to do a show with the Edward Twins. They’re wonderful impersonators. I’ve seen them many times and they’re great artists.

3. George Zaralidis:

   We look forward to making some exciting programming announcements in the coming months, including announcements about projects featuring LGBTQ storylines, characters, and actors.

4. Lockheed Martin Corp:

   We are certainly interested in another potential opportunity to bolster our longstanding partnership with Japan, we look forward to learning more about Japan's F-3 plans as discussions progress.

5. Jeff Hall:

   We’re preparing, people are forward-looking right now to be ready to respond.

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